Utqiaġvik, AK – Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS) today announced Deborah Tapa “Debbie” Benson as its Executive Director. She succeeds Morrie Lemen, who has led ICAS since 2022.
Debbie was born here in Utqiaġvik, and her parents are the late Miles Davic and Katie (Burnell) Rasmusson, her grandparents are the late Ruth (Simmonds) and Edward Burnell Sr. She spent her early years being raised on the Meade River at Tikiġluk where the Meade River Coal Mine was operated, and her family still has close ties with the village of Atqasuk. Debbie is the proud mother of four adult children and two stepchildren with eight grandchildren.
Before joining ICAS, Benson served as Executive Vice President of Human Resources for the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC). She brings to ICAS over 25 years of experience in managing employees, shareholders, and supporting subsidiaries. Throughout her tenure at ASRC, she partnered with corporate leaders to enhance workforce planning, performance management, compensation, benefits, and conflict resolution. She also represented ASRC on the Iḷisaġvik College Board of Trustees.
“I am extremely honored to join the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope as its Executive Director,” said Benson. “As someone born in Utqiaġvik, I know that our collective Iñupiaq heritage is invaluable. To serve my community for an organization that seeks to advance our Indigenous self-determination is the opportunity of a lifetime. I look forward to spearheading ICAS’ mission to strengthen our cultural traditions and values.”
As ICAS advances its work to represent and empower the eight Arctic Slope communities, Benson will steward collaboration between ICAS and Arctic Slope Iñupiat Community members, keeping tribal citizens and member tribes informed and active in vital services and programs.
“ICAS’ efforts are crucial to advancing Iñupiaq self-determination,” said ICAS Council President Nicole Wojciechowski. “Quyanaq to Morrie Lemen for his years of excellent leadership growing the services, exercising our sovereign rights and powers and providing stable leadership to ICAS.” Benson now brings decades of experience with our regional Alaska Native corporation, through which she has developed strong relationships with our communities. Her leadership will ensure that ICAS delivers its promise to protect and serve our tribal members.”
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About Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS)
The Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS) is a Regional Alaska Native tribal government governed by the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and the ICAS Constitution as amended that represents and is selected by the Iñupiat people of the Arctic Slope region.
ICAS was established as an IRA on August 26, 1971. The mission of ICAS is to exercise its sovereign rights and powers for the benefit of tribal members, to conserve and retain tribal lands and resources including subsistence and environmental issues, to establish and carry-out justice systems including social services pursuant to Iñupiat Tribal law and custom, and to increase the variety and quality of services provided to current tribal members and for our future generations.
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